Theater chair



Aug. 27, 1929. c. H. KURASCH ET AL THEATER CHAIR Filed Jan. 3, 192'? C Kama SCH.

' gwue'ntou Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

CLAUDE H. KURASCH AND DnEDnRIcK nDLna, or PORTLAND, OREGON.

THEATER CHAIR.

Application filed January 3, 1927. Serial No. 158,548.

Our invention relates to a theater chair with a pivotally mounted seat and a spring device for said seat.

' The objects of our invention are to equip theater chairs with a spring device by means of which the seat is automatically swung from a horizontal to a vertical position as soon as released from the weight of the occupant. The advantages obtained thereby are that in case of fire or other panic, the space between the rows of chairs is immediate ly cleared of obstructing seatsand presents abroad and unrestricted passage way.

The element of labor-saving is also present in this invention, since the janitors can begin with the sweeping without having to waste time by first raising the. seats, which waste of time in a large auditorium is a considerable item. Accessto or exit from the center of a row of seats is accelerated, and'accomplished With less confusion.

Monopolizing of empty seats by means of hats or wraps is made more difficult.

The disturbing noise of dropping seats preliminary to occupancy is eliminated.

The dropping of seats by children, especially in cinemas, merely for the fun of the accompanyingnoise, is checked.

Still other objects of this invention are to furnish means which are simple in construction, very easily manufactured, and quickly attached to any standard theater chair which do not in the least obstruct the seat, and which should avoid all possibility of injury to the occupant.

Other objects and advantages are to be found in the construction and arrangement of parts as will be described in the specification and particularly pointed out in the appended claims. 7

- We attain these objects with the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- 1 Fig. 1 is a front elevationwith the seat in vertical position.

Fig. 2 is a section through Fig. 1 along the line 2-2, also indicating the seat in horizontal position. A

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Although this has been designated as a theater chair,it should be understood that the word theater is meant to include any 55 place of public assembly where the seats are spaced closely'in rows. The chairs in such places usually comprise a back 1, arm rests-2, legs 3 usually of T-irons, and a seat 4, fre quently upholstered, and pivotally mounted in bearings 5 which are attached to the legs 3 in a suitable manner.

Our device as applied to this chair consists of an angle bracket with a flat, vertical arm 6 and a round, horizontal arm 7. The flat, vertical arm 6 is held to one of the front round, horizontal arm 7 proceeds parallel to the under surface of the seat 4 and should be equidistant from said under side when the seat is in horizontal, as Well'as in vertical, position. Spirally coiled around the horizontal arm 7 is a wire spring 9 Whose one end is rigidly held to the flat, vertical arm 6 by means of a'stud 10. The other end of the wire spring, whose terminal is designated by 11, extends for a certain distance toward the front edge of the seat 4. The position of the horizontal arm 7 relative to the pivot 12 of the seat 4 causes the terminal 11 of the wire spring 9 to approach the front edge of the seat 4 more closely when the latter is lowered into horizontal position, and to recede when the seat 4 resumes a vertical position. To preventthe under side of the seat 4 from being marred by this sliding motion, a bearing plate 13 is interposed between the under side of the seat 4 and the terminal 11 of the wire spring 9. Furthermore, to prevent any possible injury by the sliding wire end 11, and also to prevent the wire from lateral displace ment, a cover plate 14 is used to guide and protect the wire end 11. Cover plate 14 and bearing plate 13 are held to the under side of the seat 4 by means of the screws 15.

For occupancy the seat must be brought to a horizontal position by hand. As soon as the person rises, the seat swings upward auto matically and the space between the rows presents a clear and unobstructed passage way.

Having thus described our invention, it will legs 3 of the chair by means of bolts 8. i The be seen that our objects have been accomplished and though we have shown the preferred form of construction, we reserve to ourselves the right to make minor changes, providing we do not violate the spirit and principle of our invention.

We claim: I

1. The combination in a chair having supporting legs and a seat pivotally attached to the supporting legs, of a bracket, said bracket comprising a flat, vertical arm removably affixed to the supporting legs in front and below the pivot of the seat, a round, horizontal arm parallel to the underside of the .seat, with a spiral wire spring coiled around the horizontal arm of the bracket, one end of said wire spring held rigidly on a stud in the flat, vertical arm, a stud, the other end of said wire spring extending parallel with the under side of the seat toward the front edge of said seat, a bearing plate at the under side of the seat supporting the end of the wire spring near the front edge of theseat slidingly, and a cover plate on the bearing plate guiding and protecting the sliding wire spring end, said cover plate enclosing the sliding end of the wire spring throughout the 'full distance of its travel.

2. A chair having a seat pivotally mounted in the sides of said chair, a bracket attached to one side of said chair, said bracket having a horizontal arm extending parallel with the under side of the seat and equidista nt when the seat is in horizontal, as well as in vertical position, and leaving the seat unimpeded to swing from a horizontal to a vertical position, and vice versa, a spiral wire spring coiled around-the horizontal arm of said bracket, one end of said wire spring being rigidly held to the bracket, the other end of said spiral spring terminating near the front edge of the seat at the under side thereof, and sliding along the under surface of the seat, a bearing plate attached to the under side of the seat and receiving the terminal of the wire, and a cover plate holding the wire terminal on the bearing plate, said cover plate enclosing the sliding end of the wire spring throughout the full distance of its travel.

3. A chair having a seat pivotally mounted in the sides of the chair, with a bracket attached to one side, said bracket including a horizontal arm extending from the bracket parallel to the under side of the seat and equidistant from the under side of the seat when the latter is in horizontal, as well as in vertical, position, a wire spring coiled around the horizontal arm of the bracket, one end of said wire spring being rigidly held to the bracket, the other end of said wire spring terminating near the front edge of the seat, and a cover plate attached to the seat, said cover plate enclosing said other end of the wire spring throughout the full distance of its travel.

4. In combination with a theater chair having two T-iron legs in front, two T-iron legs at the rear and a swinging seat pivotal ly mounted at each side between the front and the rear legs, with a bracket removably attached to one of the T-iron legs at the front,

said bracket comprising a fiat, vertical arm under side of the seat toward the front edge u of said seat supporting the sliding end ofthe wire spring, and a cover plate on the bearing plate enclosing the wire end throughout the entire distance of its travel.

In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.

o. H. KURASGH. FRED MEDLER. 

